power steering fail

[waller 1]

Hi everyone, I have a T6.1 71 plate. the power steering has failed just like filcking a switch! other lights which came on the dash other than the EPS are parking sensors, hill start assist and lane assist i think?
local indipendent garage is saying no fault with the electrics up to the unit so only way forward is to replace whole EPS system - £2500!! perhaps a VW garage would have a more indepth diagnostic?
Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. thank you.

 

[Sasquatch]

Get it looked at by either a dealer or a Transporter specialist.

Its at an age where the battery may be coming up due for replacement - if the system voltage is a touch low it can cause all sorts of oddball symptoms in these beasties, even if its still healthy enough to start the van happily, so a proper drop test on the battery is a good starting point.

Fingers crossed. Take solace in the fact that the electric PAS in these is usually extremely reliable, so id have thought wholesale replacement of parts sounds like a garage unfamilliar with the system firing a random parts cannon and hoping for the best rather than a proper dispagnosis. I hope.

 

[waller 1]

thank you, will call local VW garage.

 

[Sasquatch]

Please let us know how you get on. Not only ismit nice to hear, but updates add to the collective knowledge bank.

 

[mmi]

the power steering has failed

When did it fail? First thing in the morning? In the middle of journey? How many start-ups since with fault remaining?
What was the fault code?

 

[airhoguk]

I had a very similar failure after driving through a deep puddle at night including the dash lighting up like a Christmas tree. In the end I found that behind one of the protective panels a connector had become separated once reconnected everything came back online. Absolute pain to find it but was on the passenger side just behind the front wheel arch.

 

[Dellmassive]

The T6.1 has an electric hydraulic pump for power steering.... That's one of the reasons why it's silky smooth.

Id imagine there is an electrical problem somewhere. Possibly fuse?, loose connection?.... Ie no power to the steering pump.

Have you had any work done on the van recently?

 

[waller 1]

Please let us know how you get on. Not only ismit nice to hear, but updates add to the collective knowledge bank.

yes... will do, thanks

 

[DXX]

My first check would be the battery health.
My daughter has a Mazda with electric power steering, twice she has lost power steering without warning due to a duff battery / loose terminals.
Electric power steering on a heavy van is a bit scary, at least a drive belt normally makes a horrendous noise before it fails.

 

[waller 1]

yes, I'm going to try a new battery ... just to see? thanks

 

[DXX]

yes, I'm going to try a new battery ... just to see? thanks

If it’s 5-6 years old it’s on borrowed time anyway. I had to have a word with my daughter about saving money on batteries as opposed to being able to steer around corners.